Key case



1 Nov. 30 1926.

w. R. BUXTON KEY CASE Filed Sept. 6, 1923 w Q i 1 w z Z :MM w fifi J, W v 4 M1 M2 a 3 W J J 1V W W 5 W v r 9%,: K

BYW

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARNER R. BUXTON, OIE LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BUXTO N,

INCORPORATED, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

KEY CASE.

Application filed September 6, 1923. Serial No. 661,299.

This invention relates to improvements in key cases and is more particularly concerned with improvements in the case proper, as distinguished from the key holders and the manner of mounting the same.

The invention is also directed to improvements on the invention disclosed in my prior U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,443,937, granted January 30, 1923. The last named invention was directed to the provision of a stiffening member which is adapted to lie between the lines of fold of the case and keep them properly spaced, when the case is closed, and which is capable of floating between the front and back of the case, when the latter is closed, to adjust itself into the best position to perform its function. With a flat, rigid back for the case, the stiffening member obviously would not need to float for the lines of fold remain always in the same plane as the back but, with a flexible back, which is more usual and desirable, the back and front of the case tend to bow to varying degrees and in opposite directions, whereby the lines of fold lie in some intermediate plane and the stiffening member needs to move into such plane to properly function.

An important object of a stiffening member .of the type described is to prevent the flaps of the case from bulging outwardly near their upper ends to an extent suflicient to permit the movement of keys and keyholders out of the case, as more fully pointed out in my prior patent. At the same time, flexibility of the case is desired to permit it to conform to, and fit nicely into, the pocket without discomfort to the person. Also, flexibility of the flaps and backs, near their central portions, is necessary to accommodate the keys, which form a relatively bulky mass near the center of the case. The fact that the keys cause the back and flaps to bulge, near their central portions, makes it desirable that the lines of fold should have some freedom for movement toward one another, intermediate their ends, the better to permit the bulging just described and allow the sides of the case to contract some what between their extremities.

With this end in View, the invention has for an object to provide an improved stiffening member, of the floating type described, which is of skeleton form, having parts to lie longitudinally along the lines of fold of the case and a transversely disposed portion to lie across the case near its lower end. The skeleton form, in addition to accomplishing the object of my prior patent, admits of, increased flexibility in the back of the case.

According to another feature of the invention, the skeleton stiffening member is so constructed that those parts thereof, which are intended to lie along the lines of fold of the case, are resilient and can flex inwardly, toward one another at points intermediate their ends more readily than said transverse portion, whereby the sides of the case may contract as and for the purpose above described. Also such resilient parts tend to press outwardly and separate the lines of fold, thereby tending to draw the case into as nearly flat form as possible, compatible with the bulk of keys in the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stiffening member of the general class defined which is movably connected directly to the key holder plate, as distinguished from the flexible back of the case, and to attach such plate to the case rather than to the stiffening member. The latter, if pivotally connected directly to the case, is usually dependent upon stitchings which form the pivotal connection and which, when subjected to frequent and considerable strains, may in time give way. The plate, however, may be securely held to the back of the case, as by rivets, and the stiffening member connected for movement directly to said plate in a more satisfactory manner and in a manner designed to prolong the useful life of the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a member movably connected to the case, preferably in the manner just described, which member, at that end remote from the plate, is provided with an eye to receive a chain, whereby the case may be connected to the person, as is usual with a key ring. The member, constructed and mounted in the manner described,is especially well adapted to take the strains, which arise by reason of the chain, for the pull comes directly on the plate, which is securely attached to the flexible back, rather than allowing the pull to come on the back itself or some other member of flexible material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stiffening member of wire or the like, bent in substantially U-shaped form, for the purposes above described, and having means for convenient and detachable connection with the key holder plate.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and in the illustrative embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an open key ease, showing the invention as applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to these drawings, the case as illustrated, is constructed of a strip 1 of suitable flexible material, such as leather or the like, and the end portions 2 of this strip constitute flaps which are foldable along lines of fold 3 in overlapping relation over the central portion 4, which constitutes the back of the case. Suitable means, as the male and female fasteners 15 and 16, respectively, are provided for securing the flaps 2 together in overlapping relation over the back 4, and the keys supported therefrom.

The particular manner of constructing and mounting the key holders is not essential, so far as the present invention is concerned. As shown, the key holders consist of suitable snap hooks 5 which are mounted for swinging and swivelling movement in hollow cylindrical portions 6, formed on a plate 7, which is secured, as by rivets 8, to the back 4:, near the top thereof. Various other types of key holders and various other expedients for mounting them will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be used as desired.

The present invention is concerned primarily with a skeleton stiffening member, represented generally at S, which member is provided with substantially parallel portions 10, the outer edges of which are adapted to lie substantially coincident with the lines of fold 3. These portions 10, at or near their lower ends, are connected by a transverse port-ion 11 and, by preference, the portions 10 are resilient and more read ily flexed than the portion 11. That is, it is desired to keep the flaps 2 from folding, at their upper or lower ends, along lines of fold which are closer than the lines 2. Therefore, the portion 11 desirably does not so readily tie): and it, together with plate 7, accomplishes the object just set forth. The skeleton form of the stiffening member does not materially add to the bulk or weight of the case and, by its use, the central portion of the case is left entirely free for keys and left in a freely flexible state as desired.

The member S may advantageously be made of wire bent into the form shown in Fig. 1 and wire affords the desired resiliency for the purposes above described, allowing the portions 10 to be drawn toward one another, within limits, to permit bulg ing of the case near its central portion and yet constantly tending, when flexed, to separate the sides of the case and draw it into as nearly fiat form as possible. The member S may be connected to the plate 7 by inturning the upper ends of the portions it) to form trunnions 1.0 which are received in the hollow cylindrical portions 6 for a pivotal connection, whereby the stiffening member may float in the manner and for the purposes above set forth. Various other expedient-s for connecting the stiffening member to the case for the floating function may, however, be'used, as desired, accord-' ing to the broader aspects of the invention.

Preferai'ily also the stiffening member 55 is provided with an eye 13 which may readily be formed by bending the portion 11 into the form of a coil at a point intermediate its ends. The eye 13 is provided to receive a retaining chain and the provision of such eye on a stiffening member of the character, and mounted in the manner, set forth is important in that the pull of the chain is applied to a part which is not readily )IilQRSlblG and transmitted by such part to the plate 7' which can be securely attached to the flexible back l. As a matter of fact the plate 7 is usually grasped when the key case is used, and no strains whatever will be transmitted to the back 41.

By constructing the stiffening member in the manner described it can be readily attached to, or detached from, the case, simply by springing the portions 10 apart sufiiciently to permit insertion or removal of the trunnions from the portion 6. This feature is an important one because the case does not have to be a specially constructed one in order to have the stiffening feature. The cases may be made in the ordinary way and converted into the illustrated form, when desired, by adding the member S. This arrangement permits the manufacturer to standardize his product and avoids the special constructions necessary.

The invention has been disclosed herein in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

hat I claim is 1. In a key case, a substantially U-shaped member pivoted thereto near one end and having its cross bar portion disposed near the other end of the case, and provided with an eye.

2. In a key case, of the type having a hollow transverse member open at each end, a substantially U-shaped member of resilient material having its side portions provided near their upper ends with inturned portions adapted to be received in the open ends of said hollow transverse member and adapted to be detached therefrom by springing said side portions outwardly.

3. In a key case, of the type having a hollow transverse member open at each end, a member formed of wire bent into substantially the form of a U and having the free ends of the sides of the U inturned to form trunnions adapted for reception in the open ends of said hollow transverse member.

4. In a key case of the type having a hollow transverse member open at each end, a member formed of wire bent into substantially the form of a U and having the free ends of the sides of the U inturned to form trunnions adapted for reception in the open ends of said hollow transverse member, the

cross bar portion of said U-shaped member being bent intermediate its ends to provide an eye.

5. In a key case, having a substantially rigid transverse member mounted thereon near one end to support the key holders, a member movably connected with the first named member and extending toward the other end of the case and provided with an eye at a point remote from the first named member.

6. In a key case, having a substantially rigid transverse member mounted thereon near one end to support the key holders, :1 member pivotally connected with the first named member and extending toward the other end of the case and provided with an eye at a point remote from the first named member.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

WARNER It. BU XTON. 

